Disqus - Latest Comments for gareth higgins

Re: The Film Talk - Part 42 - Fear and Desire / Zack and Miri Make a Porno

gareth higgins — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:46:13 -0000

Tom! I don't have a Favourite Listener, of course, because to show such partiality would be against the egalitarian spirit of TFT - but thank you for the endorsement of my Verhoeven story.

Re: Sita Sings the Blues

gareth higgins — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:27:18 -0000

Hi Marjorie - thanks so much for taking the time to write in such detail about 'Sita' - there's a vast amount in there - appreciate you making the comments and opening up a side of the dialogue I had not raised.

Re: Why Jett and I Have Free Tickets to the Movies

gareth higgins — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:09:24 -0000

The fact that I haven't yet walked out of a Michael Bay film should not be seen as a guarantee that I won't do so at some point in the future...

Re: Why Jett and I Have Free Tickets to the Movies

gareth higgins — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:45:46 -0000

It's simple - I told the nice woman at customer services that the film was one of the most offensive, uncomfortable, and unpleasant viewing experiences I had ever had, and I would appreciate it if she would refund the tickets. She immediately agreed to give us vouchers to let us come back for a free admission. The fact that we had only been in the screening for 10 minutes or so probably helped; but I think most cinemas would probably have a similar policy - or they should, if they want to take seriously the need to engender audience loyalty.

Re: ‘Rachel Getting Married’ as Racist Recruiting Tool and Indictment of Multi-Culturalism

gareth higgins — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:31:50 -0000

This is a fascinating post, Jett; while I'm going to have to think about it further before I respond to what you say, let me add something about what you don't: Is the via negativa of how this film might be mis-interpreted by a small number of angry people not overwhelmed by the interpretation that most people have: that 'Rachel Getting Married' is actually an incredibly hopeful work of art that points in the direction of an integrated America, that doesn't offer easy answers to painful questions, and that is honest about the fact that we all draw from different cultures, all the time: the point is whether or not we can do so with generosity? In fact, is it not the case that if 'Rachel' is a racist recruitment tool then so is any film in which liberals are happy?

Re: ‘Rachel Getting Married’ as Racist Recruiting Tool and Indictment of Multi-Culturalism

gareth higgins — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:40:40 -0000

This film has clearly evoked strong feelings; it did the same for me, but of course in the opposite direction. I think it's an extremely exciting, alive piece of honest humanist art. I don't think you addressed the points I raised in my comment, so I'll try again:

1: Why do you think RGM isn't hopeful?

2: What's wrong with creative people enjoying themselves?

3: You say that one of the most contrived moments in the film is when the camera focuses on Ethan's plate. But is this not just exactly what everyone in the kitchen would have done? i.e. glanced at it first time round, tried to pretend it wasn't there, and then found oneself unable not to look at it again? This is an observational film - we're guests at the wedding, mildly uncomfortable, watching, not sure if we should be there. The Ethan plate moment is one of the most lifelike in the film.

4: Ultimately I think that 'Rachel Getting Married' is a fine film, not a masterpiece. I freely grant - always have - that the wedding itself is over the top and 'you had to be there' - but so has every wedding that I've ever been to. That's why this film is realistic: some people on their best behaviour, and so they act over the top; others find that their emotions get the better of them, so they have sex with the best man, or make embarrasing speeches, or get jealous over who gets what title. And, for a moment or longer, a community of two families can form, and people can taste a little bit of what life at its best could be like. That's all that's happening here. Nothing more, nothing less.

I think that the minority you refer to in your original post (and believe me, the Ethan and Sidney references bear serious thought) may well be pissed off by this movie, if they ever see it; but I imagine that anyone else affected by the issues it raises might just find a little bit of comfort in their struggle to make life work. I did, at least. It's sad that it made you angry. But from my perspective, in the world imagined by the film, we could agree to disagree and still be friends.

Re: ‘Rachel Getting Married’ as Racist Recruiting Tool and Indictment of Multi-Culturalism

gareth higgins — Tue, 05 May 2009 21:42:33 -0000

Apologies - correction to the last paragraph of my previous comment:

I think that the minority you refer to in your original post (and I really do think it's fascinating - the Ethan and Sidney references bear serious thought, and that's just for starters) may well be pissed off by this movie, if they ever see it; but I imagine that anyone else affected by the issues it raises might just find a little bit of comfort in their struggle to make life work. I did, at least. It's sad that it made you angry. But from my perspective, in the world imagined by the film, we could agree to disagree and still be friends.

Re: Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus

gareth higgins — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:51:44 -0000

You do realise that that's the 'Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus' starring Deborah Gibson, i.e. the once and future 'Debbie Gibson', i.e. wandering minstrel behind such masterpieces of my teenage years as 'Foolish Beat', 'Shake Your Love', and 'Only in My Dreams', i.e. the woman who I can freely admit was the first female to appear on my bedroom wall, somewhere between 'The Goonies' and Tim Burton's 'Batman'.

'Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus' simply cannot fail. It must not.

Re: Let the Right One In

gareth higgins — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:11:32 -0000

hello there OneLittleBird

and welcome to TFT - we're glad to have you here...

it is true, as you say, that i am not a fan of horror generally. but i can assure you that the only reason i haven't seen 'let the right one in' is that it passed our local cinemas by when i was there, and the dvd subtitling debacle for the u.s. release has not yet been corrected. once it has been so corrected i'll be first in line to watch.

looking forward to it, and with fond memories of that first viewing of 'the exorcist', and especially the word you used to describe it: 'beautiful'. a beautiful film indeed.

Re: Angels and Demons: Some further thoughts

gareth higgins — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:05:47 -0000

I meant nothing more than the fact that Richard Dawkins wrote what he appears to think is a credible intellectual book about theology and religion, which, once read, shows no sign whatsoever of anything more than a passing acquaintance with some of the most distorted visions of what he is claiming to understand. Dawkins has a more refined and capacious mind than I do; but writing a book like 'The God Delusion' without engaging in anything more than a high school magazine level of study of theology seems to me, at the very least, intellectually suspect.

Re: Three Questions about ‘Terminator Salvation’

gareth higgins — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:13:03 -0000

Hey friends of the film talk (and I include everyone who has posted here) - thanks for the lively discussion on this post - ironically enough it was a quick post that I rushed out last week without too much in-depth thought; and no expectation that anyone would want to comment that much about it.

I actually think that kbm has some fascinating things to say about the film, and his/her comments have given me much food for thought; his/her passion for cinema genuinely lifts my spirits. I'm happy to apologise if anything I wrote in the original post seemed tonally problematic or snarky; and I'd like to say to kbm that I'd love to see more of him/her on the site - but let's lay off on the personal insults.

In that regard, let me say to StanleyRumm, thanks also for your comment - though I'd probably want to add, with sincere respect, that the 'powder in his nostrils' statement could appear to cross the same lines of making things unnecessarily personal that got this party started in the first place. Having said that, the suggestion that McG himself might be reading this site is a lovely compliment!

With all that in mind, let me say this, as I don't think it was clear on the podcast:

I liked Terminator Salvation more than I had expected. References to Apocalypse Now, Three Kings, Blade Runner, Saving Private Ryan, Escape from New York, and even (perhaps) The Dark Crystal abound, and reveal McG not only as a film lover of my generation, but a pretty good homagist (if indeed that is the word). It's not clear if this film is critiquing or endorsing the post-9/11 belligerence culture; or speaking fearfully about climate change and techno-colonisation; or trying to be a video game. And it's not clear if the ambiguity is intentional or a result of McG falling short of what he was trying to do. I do think, however, that it represents an attempt at making a serious movie; I do think that McG is likely to succeed in the future at doing so; and I do agree with Jett that the character of John Connor was under-written and performed. It's not a disaster; and if it is full of the coding that kbm suggests, that wouldn't surprise me; but I'd need to see it again.

Re: 2009 Film Awards Part 1: ‘The Cove’

gareth higgins — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:29:42 -0000

Ah Toby - that comes close to a spoiler, but I have to say that the man with the TV on his chest is the most moving thing I've seen at the movies this year. I am a raving fan of this film.

Re: ‘No Country for Old Men’: Thoughtful, Frightening, and Beguiling (by Gareth Higgins)

gareth higgins — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:38:25 -0000

hi jackfate

i have made it a habit not to post comments on this blog as i feel i have more than enough scope to say what i feel in my regular articles, and don't feel it's fair for me to write in the space where comments are invited from readers, but because of the direct question you ask, i am posting simply to say thank you for your kind words, and that i have not seen 'i'm not there' as it has not opened in belfast yet; but when i see it i will endeavour to post something on my personal blog about it; as i believe becky garrison has already written a rather intriguing post about it here on the god's politics blog.

peace,

gareth